Pitt-Bradford Hockey Club Team Clinches Spot in CHE Playoffs

2016-17 Pitt-Bradford Hockey Club Team.

Feb 09, 2017

In its inaugural season in the College Hockey East League, the Pitt-Bradford hockey club team has clinched a spot in the playoffs.

Pitt-Bradford was accepted into the league in the fall and competes in the Open Tier 2 division. The College Hockey East League playoffs are slated for Saturday, Feb. 25, in Rostraver, Pa., at The Ice Garden, and the winners will advance to Sunday's championship bout.

The Panthers close out the regular season this weekend with a pair of games against Allegheny and Niagara County Community College and have a chance to better position themselves for postseason seeding. Pitt-Bradford currently sits in fourth-place, one point behind Alfred State.

The hockey club team is in just its fourth year of existence, and head coach Ray Geary is excited for how far the program has come in a short time.

"The program has gained momentum over the past four years, and more and more players are contacting me to play hockey for our team," Geary said. "It's just great to see it grow and the university to provide an additional opportunity for students to play a sport that they love."

Geary added the team is proud to represent Pitt-Bradford in the playoffs but understands there is still work to be done.

"The competition in the CHE is very close in skill levels so getting into the finals and even winning the championship is within our grasp, and our players recognize that," Geary said. "The intensity in our practices has been off the charts, and it's exciting to see the players pumped to play in the playoffs."